Are council changes 'welcome' news or a 'tragedy'?

Three new councils are coming to Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. But not everyone supports the idea.

Three new councils have been announced across two counties, but is it good news or not? It was confirmed yesterday that there will be a Northern Oxfordshire council, a Ridgeway council to the south of Oxfordshire - including West Berkshire and Vale of White Horse - and a Greater Oxford authority for Oxford and its green belt. Each unitary will look after all of the local services in its area.

The announcement has been supported by the Labour leader from Oxford City and the Liberal Democrats in charge of West Berkshire. But the leader of Oxfordshire's Liberal Democrats, Tim Bearder, described the decision as an "unmitigated tragedy" and is calling for the decision to be reversed. The new system of local government was put forward by Oxford City Council's Labour group.

The move will bring 49 parishes into Greater Oxford from Cherwell, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. Leader of Oxford City, Susan Brown, said the new authorities would "save money and keep decision making local," while providing an opportunity to tackle Oxford's housing crisis by building on 2.6% of the green belt. Jeff Brooks, Liberal Democrat leader of West Berkshire Council, said he was "delighted" by the decision and that the new Ridgeway Council creates "an exciting opportunity to build on the many strengths of West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse."

Sean Woodcock, Labour MP for Banbury said the change will "save taxpayers money, get rid of the confusing two-tier system, and help residents hold local politicians to account." But not everyone is quite so happy. The leader of Oxfordshire County Council's Liberal Democrat administration, Tim Bearder, said having three unitary authorities was an "unmitigated tragedy."

"It does not deliver on its vision to simplify and improve local government services," he argued, with three times the number of highly paid service directors needed for each council. Bearder also raised concerns about West Berkshire being in special financial measures and will "bring all their debt" to South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. But his main criticism was around the creation of the Greater Oxford authority, which will include Bearder's Wheatley ward, Kidlington, Berinsfield and Botley.

Bearder said it would "completely change the nature of our communities and our villages" by being "consumed" into the Greater Oxford area through building on the green belt. Bearder has now confirmed he will be writing to the next Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to ask him to review the decision. Both West Oxfordshire leader, Andy Graham and and Cherwell District Council leader, Lesley McLean, described the three unitary authority decision as "disappointing", having hoped to form a bigger council with Oxford.

And Reading Borough Council has also been critical of the decision, after calling for the west Berkshire wards of Tilehurst Birch Copse, Tilehurst & Purley, and Tilehurst South & Holybrook to be moved into Reading. They will now be part of Ridgeway council. Council Leader, Liz Terry said, "People who know Reading will understand that these wards are already effectively suburbs of the town and have been for many years".

She has confirmed the council is now asking for more details about how the decision was made and will "consider its position" going forward. All the current councils will be abolished over the next two years. These include Oxfordshire County Council, West Berkshire Council, Cherwell District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxford City Council.

But the three new unitary authorities will only fully take over from the existing councils in April 2028, with elections taking place next May.